The scene was filmed and widely relayed on social networks on the night of Wednesday 14 to Thursday 15 December. According to the Hérault prefecture, “the police investigation is progressing rapidly”.
A 14-year-old teenager died on Wednesday evening in the Paillade district of Montpellier, hit by a “driver”, following France’s qualification for the World Cup final in Qatar against Morocco, announced the prefecture.
The scene was filmed and widely relayed on social networks overnight from Wednesday to Thursday. It shows a white car with a tricolor hanging from a rear window surrounded by several people before making a violent U-turn.
The driver fled and “The vehicle was found near the scene of the accident and placed in receivership”added the prefecture in a press release specifying that “the police investigation is progressing rapidly under the direction of the prosecution”. The victim, transferred to the hospital in absolute emergency, died shortly after his medical care.
According to the deputy of Nupes de l’Hérault Nathalie Oziol, the facts occurred in the popular district of La Paillade and the victim was 14 years old, she indicated on Twitter, regretting that this “sporting event ends in absolute tragedy”.
“Aggravated fatal blows in this case with a weapon”
“Following the apprehension of a French flag held at the window of a car, the driver of the latter violently left the line of vehicles in front of him and hit a 14-year-old boy”, said the Montpellier prosecutor’s office during the day. The teenager “died rapidly from his injuries”he added, specifying that a “investigation of the chief of aggravated fatal blows in this case with weapon (the vehicle)”was entrusted to the departmental security of Montpellier.
“Numerous investigations and technical examinations are underway to find the perpetrator”added the prosecution. “We want the perpetrators of this despicable act to be found to be tried”said Thursday, also on the social network, the socialist mayor of Montpellier Michaël Delafosse.
In 2019, during celebrations following an African Cup of Nations (CAN) match, another accident took place in the same neighborhood. A supporter had lost control of his vehicle and hit a mother and her baby. The mother died instantly and the child was seriously injured.
Updated at 1:14 p.m. with the details of the prosecution and more context.